Rabies claimed 47 lives in last four years: RTI reply
Rabies caused by stray dog bites claimed 47 lives in the State in the last four years between January 2020 and January 2024, revealed a response by the oce of the State Health Director to a Right to Information (RTI) application.
This was in addition to 22 more lives ‘probably’ lost to rabies, according to the response received by RTI activist Raju Vazhakkala. The highest number of 10 ‘conrmed rabies deaths’ was reported from Kollam district, followed by 9 in Thiruvananthapuram.
Five lives each were lost in Thrissur and Kannur, four in Kozhikode, three each in Ernakulam and Palakkad, two each in Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, and Wayanad, and one each in Malappuram and Kasaragod districts during the period. Among the ‘probable rabies deaths,’ seven were reported from Alappuzha, three each in Thrissur and Palakkad, two each in Kottayam and Malappuram, and one each in Idukki and Kozhikode districts.
“At a time when humanwildlife con¦ict has become a major discussion point, a serious public health issue caused by stray dogs has gone largely under the radar. Loss of sixty-nine lives, including 22 probable deaths due to rabies, in four years is a signicant number, and the issue needs attention,” said Mr. Vazhakkala. While 15 deaths each were conrmed due to rabies in 2022 and 2023, 11 lives were lost in 2021, ve in 2020 and one in the rst month of 2024 alone.
Families of not all victims of rabies receive nancial assistance from the Central or State government. However, death and damage caused by stray dog bites are being compensated by the Supreme Court-appointed Justice S. Siri Jagan Committee.